Good to Great Nucor Pioneered application of the most advanced mill steel manufacturing technology. "Shop the world over" for the most advanced technology. Willing to make huge bets (up to 50 percent of corporate net worth) on new technologies that others viewed as risky, such as continuous thin slab casting. Philip Morris Pioneered application of both packaging and manufacturing technology. Bet on technology to make flip-top boxes-the first packaging innovation in twenty years in the industry. First to use computer-based manufacturing. Huge investment in manufacturing
center to experiment with, test, and refine advanced manufacturing and quality techniques.
Pitney Bowes Pioneered application of advanced technology to the mailroom. At first, it took the form of mechanical postage meters. Later, Pitney
invested heavily in electrical, software,
communications, and Internet engineering for the most sophisticated back-office machines. Made huge investment to reinvent basic postage meter technology in the s.
Walgreens Pioneered application of satellite communications and technology, linked to its concept of
convenient corner drugstores, tailored to the unique needs of specific demographics and locations. A swallow your tonsils" big investment on a satellite system that links all stores together, like one giant web of a single corner pharmacy. "Like a trip through NASA space center" Led the rest of the industry by at least a decade. Wells Pioneered application of technologies that would increase economic denominator of profit per employee. Early leader in twenty-four-hour
banking by phone, early adopter of first to allow people to buy and sell mutual funds at an ATM, pioneer in Internet and electronic banking. Pioneered sophisticated mathematics to conduct better risk assessment in lending.